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KP flops again with bat at CLT20

Pietersen made his total off nine balls before being caught at short third man.

Cape Town: An unhappy Champions League Twenty20 tournament for recalled England batsman Kevin Pietersen continued on Sunday when he made a meagre nine runs. Coming in one place lower than usual at No 4 for Delhi Daredevils against Perth Scorchers at a windy and chilly Newlands, Pietersen made his total off nine balls before being caught at short third man.

A slow, left-arm delivery from Michael Beer did the damage, with South Africa-born Pietersen getting a thick edge which was gratefully snapped up by Mitchell Marsh. The highlight of the short Pietersen stay at the crease was his first shot as he came forward and struck a half-volley wide of mid-on for a four to applause from many warmly-wrapped spectators.

Pietersen struck 14 runs off 18 balls last weekend at Centurion near Pretoria in a victory over Kolkata Knight Riders and rain prevented any play against Auckland Aces in Durban two days ago. He bowled three overs of off spin against the Scorchers, but failed to capture any wickets in a stint that leaked 26 runs on a sticky 'plasticine' wicket deemed unfriendly to batsmen.

Pietersen had some joy in the field as he caught Mitchell Marsh near the boundary, comfortably holding a reckless, ill-timed shot that took an age to drop. Delhi Daredevils complete a four-fixture pool schedule against the South African Titans in Centurion on Tuesday with Pietersen hoping for more success before joining his England teammates for a tour of India.

The 32-year-old batsman was dropped by England two months ago after texting messages to South African opponents in which he criticised his teammates during a three-Test series. He also missed the World Twenty20 championship in Sri Lanka, spending his time in a commentary booth instead, working for a United States-based television network.